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CHAPTER 11

The Entry into Jerusalem.*1When they drew near to Jerusalem,a to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
2and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
3If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’”
4So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it.
5Some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
6They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it.
7So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it.
8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
9Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:b

“Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!

Hosanna in the highest!”

11He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.c

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree.*12The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.d13Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs.
14And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.

Cleansing of the Temple.*15They came to Jerusalem,e and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
16He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
17Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:

18The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
19When evening came, they went out of the city.g

The Withered Fig Tree.20h Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
21Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
22Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
23Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.i24Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.j25When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”k[26]*

The Authority of Jesus Questioned.*27They returned once more to Jerusalem.l As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him
28and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
29Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
31They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘[Then] why did you not believe him?’
32But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet.
33So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

* [11:1–11] In Mark’s account Jesus takes the initiative in ordering the preparation for his entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11:1–6) even as he later orders the preparation of his last Passover supper (Mk 14:12–16). In Mk 11:9–10 the greeting Jesus receives stops short of proclaiming him Messiah. He is greeted rather as the prophet of the coming messianic kingdom. Contrast Mt 21:9.

* [11:12–14] Jesus’ search for fruit on the fig tree recalls the prophets’ earlier use of this image to designate Israel; cf. Jer 8:13; 29:17; Jl 1:7; Hos 9:10, 16. Cursing the fig tree is a parable in action representing Jesus’ judgment (Mk 11:20) on barren Israel and the fate of Jerusalem for failing to receive his teaching; cf. Is 34:4; Hos 2:14; Lk 13:6–9.

* [11:26] This verse, which reads, “But if you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your transgressions,” is omitted in the best manuscripts. It was probably added by copyists under the influence of Mt 6:15.

* [11:27–33] The mounting hostility toward Jesus came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (Mk 11:27); the Herodians and the Pharisees (Mk 12:13); and the Sadducees (Mk 12:18). By their rejection of God’s messengers, John the Baptist and Jesus, they incurred the divine judgment implied in Mk 11:27–33 and confirmed in the parable of the vineyard tenants (Mk 12:1–12).

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